Chapter Five

"He'll join us soon." But Immediately director Lee said that the door to the conference room opened and an aged Chinese man walked in. Behind him were a few men in suits and three amongst them were able-bodied and had radios connected to their left ears. The chairman strolled into the room, and the men who had just taken a seat stood up.

Standing tall and confident, Derrick offered his hand in a handshake as the Chairman of Chan Groups approached the long table.

"Chairman Chan..." He said. The man eyed him carefully from head to foot before taking his hand in a firm shake and locking eyes with him.

"Derrick Moore, I presume?" The Chairman replied with a Chinese accent.

With a straight face, Derrick replied curtly. "Yes."

"Pleased to finally make your acquaintance." He walked over to a seat at the head of the long table, the other two men he had come with, walking side by side with him, while the bodyguards stood back.

"I've heard a lot..."

Derrick allowed him to sit before taking a sit himself.

"I hope they are great things you heard." 

Chairman Chan assessed Derrick with sharp scrutiny before darting his eyes away.

"We've done a background check on your company and it's very impressive how you're able to manage your company and as well, leave it at the top of the chart at the end of each month. But, as you might already know, at Chan Groups, we go deeper than company background."  He searched Derrick's eyes for any emotions; fear, apprehension? But there was none.

"Are you married?" 

Derrick stilled for a moment at the sudden question.

"I was," Derrick replied. Something in his tone told the Chairman that he didn't want to have that conversation, but, Chairman Chan pressed on with his questions.

"You divorced, why?" 

Something flashed across Derrick's eyes. He hesitated a moment, but he still held the older man's gaze.

"I didn't divorce, she passed, and since then, I haven't remarried." Derrick forced himself to remain calm and bold as he said that. Chairman Chan went quiet. He stared at Derrick firmly for a few more minutes, then he rose from his seat and so did the other men in the room. Chairman Chan stretched a hand towards Derrick who immediately took it in a firm handshake.

"GG is a reliable company and its CEO is quite competent and popular here in America. We could use your help establishing our name here in Los Angeles. Plus, your Company provides the best Tech resources, I don't see why we can't work with you." Chairman Chan said as they shook hands. "I'll have my assistant send the necessary documents to your office for signing."

"Thank you."

"I believe Chan Groups would get the best out of this collaboration." 

"We would ensure to live up to your belief in us," Derrick replied and Chairman Chan nodded. Then he and Derrick walked toward the door with the rest of the party trailing behind and the two secretaries following side by side with their employers. 

"I must say that I'm impressed by you." Chairman Chan said when they reached the exit. "Not all young men of this generation can handle a business from the scratch, but you did just that and still managed to overtake a few companies that came before yours just within the space of five years. And you're still upholding your position in the world after that many years. As I said earlier, I've heard a lot about you. Your successes, your fame and popularity in these regions, and a lot more. I asked myself what was it about this particular young man that distinguishes him from the other young CEO of this century and I just got my answer today." Chairman Chan appraised Derrick like a father would a son, smiling for the first time since Derrick saw him. "I'm certain I won't regret working with you."

"Thank You for your confidence in us, Chairman Chan." Derrick returned the older man's smile, before taking his hand in one final shake, then he turned around and exited the company with Sheila.

As they boarded their car, Sheila felt a certain aura reeking from Derrick. It was one different from his usual friendliness, and somehow, she could tell it had something to do with the question the Chairman of Chan Groups had asked him. She hadn't known until today that he was married. The news she had read had skipped that about him. But, why? She glanced at him and caught him furiously adjusting his tie.

"Let me help with that." She shifted closer to him and as she started to undo the tie, the car suddenly shook, knocking Sheila from her seat and sending her straight into Derrick's arms.

Derrick's expression grew subtle as he stared at Sheila in his arms, but something else grew hard. She was so close to him that he could feel the softness of her breast grazing his chest. Now, why won't a man grow hard with such feelings?

"Are you okay?" His voice came out as a rasp, despite his attempt to sound bold.

"Uh! Yes," Sheila stuttered and quickly moved away from him, throwing her eyes out the window.

"I'm sorry for the bump Mr. Moore, the road in these areas isn't in  such a good condition." Carter apologized.

"It's okay Carter," Derrick murmured. He felt discomfort in his pants and it didn't do him any good with Sheila in the car with him. The car suddenly felt too hot. He sighed and pulled the tie from his neck. "Carter, please turn on the Air conditioner." 

"Yes." 

The car halted at the company and Derrick and Sheila alighted. 

"I'd prepare for your next meeting, Derrick," Sheila said, scrolling through her iPad.

"Cancel all my morning meetings," Derrick told her. He couldn't afford to go for any meetings with such discomfort in between his thighs. It didn't help either that she was using his first name right now.

"Okay," Sheila said. "Do you want me to do anything for you, a cup of coffee, typing of files, or something?"

"I want you sprawled on my desk, panties below your butt." He wanted to say, after all, she was the reason for his hardness. But, he couldn't tell her that, he wouldn't. "A cup of coffee will be just right." He said and carried on into his office.

When Sheila returned with his coffee, he was punching into his laptop.

"Thank you, Sheila." He said as she put the black mug on his desk.

"You're welcome. Do you need anything else?"

"Nothing for now." He answered and she nodded before heading towards the door.

Derrick stared at her back and he found himself swallowing hard and undoing the first two buttons of his shirt. This was just too much temptation for a man. He sighed and clutched hard on the mug he was holding.

At the end of the day, Carter drove back to the company to pick Derrick up. 

After dropping Derrick home, he drove Sheila home.

"I'll see you on Monday, Sheila," Derrick said as he alighted the car.

"Bye, Mr. Moore." 

When Sheila got home, she threw herself on her bed and let out a long sigh.

'What a long day it was.' She murmured with eyes closed.

Her phone rang, drawing her out of her trance. She searched her bag for her phone and when she picked up the phone, Zoey's voice screamed from the other end, making Sheila flinch in shock.

"Thank God it's Fridayyyyyy!!" Her ear-deafening shout resonated in Sheila's ears and out of reflex, she had to cover her ears.

"It's the start of the weekend girl. Remember our plans. Jimmy, you and I, at the Elevate Lounge, ten o'clock Pm, you haven't forgotten, have you?"

"How'd I forget my own celebration party?" Sheila asked and then giggled.

"Greeeeeat!" Zoey screeched and Sheila had to cover her ears again. "Dress for the party then. You need to go back home tonight with a dude. You need someone to hit your spot."

"Zoeeey!"

"What?" She asked in defense. "I know you haven't been with a man for a while now. You've been patiently dreaming about your forever crush. You need to let someone handle you, you need a good fuck, every woman deserves good sex once in a while, especially when you are single, and that too now that you've decided to be a virtuous secretary and not seduce Derrick Moore."

"Zoeyyyy!!"

"Do not Zoey me, Sheila. I'm so making sure that you go back home in the company of a man tonight." She said and then went on and on lecturing Sheila on why she needed good sex once in a while. In the end, Sheila was exhausted searching her wardrobe for something sexy to wear. She couldn't agree less with what Zoey had said. Every woman needed good sex once in a while and she too wasn't an exemption.